Booking Shortlist

For: Barbershops

Best booking software for barbers in 2026: 6 apps compared

By Booking Shortlist · Published · Updated · Prices checked on · Based on public documentation

Disclosure: Our #1 pick is MeetScarlet, and we are affiliated with them. We also cover competing tools and where they shine. We may earn commissions from links on this page. Details

The short answer: For most small barbershops, Booksy is the closest fit: it’s built for barbers, has one price with every feature, and lists you free on its marketplace (its paid Boost promotion ranks you higher). A solo barber on the tightest budget can start on Square’s free plan or Fresha at $19.95. Vagaro’s price stops rising at seven barbers, so it gets better value as a shop grows. GlossGenius suits barbers who want no marketplace. Boulevard fits bigger shops ready for a 12-month contract. Checked November 3, 2026. Our #1 pick, MeetScarlet, says it’s live; its help says “no live card payment has been run yet” (November 5, 2026).

Key takeaways

  • Booksy is built for barbers: one $29.99 monthly price with every feature, plus $20 a month per extra team member, and 2,000 free marketing texts (checked November 3, 2026).
  • Square Appointments has a $0 plan, but no-show and cancellation fees start on Plus at $49 per location a month.
  • Marketplace fees vary a lot: Vagaro charges only if you turn on its Fill My Books promotion (5% on existing clients, 20% on brand-new ones), Booksy only if you turn on Boost (30% of a first visit, up to $100), and Fresha charges 20% (minimum $6) on brand-new marketplace clients.
  • GlossGenius charges 2.4% + $0.15 in person on every plan and has no marketplace at all.
  • Boulevard suits bigger shops, but its standard contract runs 12 months and can't be cancelled early.

What barber booking software is (and isn’t)

Barber booking software lets clients book a chair online, sends reminders, takes card payments, and protects you from no-shows with deposits or fees. Some apps also list you on a consumer marketplace where new clients find you, sometimes for a fee.

This page is for barbers from solo chairs to shops with a few locations. See all our pages for barbershops.

How we chose these apps

  • Price for 1 and 3 barbers, from each vendor’s US pricing page on November 3, 2026.
  • No-show protection: whether deposits, cancellation fees or no-show fees are included, and on which plan.
  • Marketplace fees: what each app charges for new clients it sends you.
  • In-person card rates, from each vendor’s pricing or payments page.
  • Contract and refund terms, from each vendor’s terms of service.
  • Who it’s built for, and what’s included: who the vendor targets, and what the base price includes, such as marketing texts and support hours.
  • We haven’t used these apps hands-on, so this list is based on public documentation. The order reflects how well each app fits a typical one- to three-chair barbershop on these criteria. We don’t score apps. Our #1 pick, MeetScarlet, is shown in the pick box above and in the table below, outside the order, and our method explains more.

The shortlist at a glance

App1 barber / month3 barbers / monthNo-show protectionMarketplace fee on new clientsIn-person card rateBiggest limitation
MeetScarlet (our #1 pick, not placed by this rule)$349 + $999 setup, or $3,490 a year (setup free)Same on the Scarlet plan (1 location, 5 staff logins); Scarlet Pro includes up to 3 locationsDeposits and no-show fees documented, but its help says “no live card payment has been run yet”No marketplaceWe found none; in-app cards are Stripe’s fees + 1%, on once your Stripe account is approvedStore apps take about 4 to 6 weeks; no refunds for part-used months
Booksy$29.99 + tax$69.99 + taxYesNone, unless you turn on Boost (30% of first visit, up to $100)2.49% + $0.10 (Booksy Card Reader)$20 per extra team member
Square Appointments$0 (Free)$49 (Plus, needed for no-show fees)Plus and upNone found2.6% + 15¢ (Free)No-show fees not on the free plan
Vagaro$23.99 for 6 months, then $30.00$43.99 for 6 months, then $50.00Yes“No booking fees” unless you opt into Fill My Books (5% existing, 20% new clients)2.6% + 10¢ (under $4,000/month)Free reader means 12 months of Vagaro processing
GlossGenius$28 monthly, or $24 billed annually$56 monthly, or $48 billed annually (Gold)YesNo marketplace2.4% + $0.15Standard is effectively a one-person plan
Fresha$19.95$44.85Yes20% one-time, $6 minimum2.29% + $0.2020% fee on new marketplace clients
Boulevard$159 per location billed monthly ($143 annually), up to 5 providersSameYes (deposits, cards on file)None found“Starting at 2.65%”12-month contract

Sources: each vendor’s pricing page, linked in the sources below, checked November 3, 2026. US dollars, before tax unless shown. The 3-barber Booksy and Fresha prices are our arithmetic from their per-person prices. MeetScarlet’s row draws on its pricing, appointments help, payments help and terms, checked November 5, 2026.

The best booking software for barbers

1. Booksy, best for barbers who want a barber-first app

Booksy describes itself as “A business app built for barbers, stylists & salon owners”, for “a solo barber, an independent stylist, or running a full salon”. It costs $29.99 a month plus tax with “All features included”, plus $20 a month for each extra team member, with “No commitment” and “Cancel anytime”. Plans include 2,000 free marketing texts a month, and reminders are always free.

Its marketplace listing is free, but Booksy’s terms say businesses that buy its optional Boost promotion “will appear higher in the search results”, so a listing without Boost ranks lower. If you turn on Boost, Booksy charges “30% fee based on the total cost of a Boost client’s first visit with you, up to a maximum of $100”. Card payments cost 2.49% + $0.10 on the Booksy Card Reader and 2.69% + $0.30 for mobile or keyed payments. Booksy offers free data transfer and 24/7 live chat.

Where it loses: the per-person price adds up, so three barbers cost $69.99 a month plus tax, more than Fresha, Square Plus, Vagaro or GlossGenius. Its terms say it “will not refund you for the period already paid for”.

Why it’s first: Booksy puts barbers first on its homepage and includes every feature, 2,000 marketing texts a month and 24/7 live chat in one price, with no contract. Vagaro’s text marketing, by comparison, isn’t on its included list. Booksy isn’t the cheapest: Square, Fresha and GlossGenius cost less for one barber, and Fresha, Square Plus, Vagaro and GlossGenius cost less for three.

Best for: solo barbers and small shops that want a barber-focused, all-in-one app, and either don’t need marketplace clients or are willing to pay for Boost to rank higher. See Booksy’s pricing page.

2. Square Appointments, best for solo barbers starting free

Square Appointments’ free plan costs $0 a month per location and includes an online booking site, reminders, unlimited staff calendars, and prepayments and deposits. Its paid plans are priced per location, not per person: Plus is $49 and Premium $149 per location a month, so adding barbers doesn’t raise the bill. Plus and Premium have a 30-day free trial.

In-person card fees are 2.6% + 15¢ on Free, 2.5% + 15¢ on Plus and 2.4% + 15¢ on Premium. Square also offers Square Go, a free marketplace app.

Where it loses: cancellation and no-show fees aren’t on the free plan, so a barber who loses money to no-shows needs Plus at $49. Square’s terms say subscription fees already paid aren’t refunded.

Best for: solo barbers who mainly need a booking page, and growing shops that want a flat price however many barbers they add. Read our Square Appointments review.

3. Vagaro, best for growing shops of three or more barbers

Vagaro’s barber page offers “collecting deposits upfront and charging no-show fees”, and says its marketplace lets you “keep 100% of your profits with no booking fees”. Its optional Fill My Books promotion is the exception: it charges “a per-booking fee (5% for existing customers, 20% for brand-new ones)”, and only if you choose to use it. It costs $23.99 a month for one calendar for the first 6 months, then $30.00, and $10 for each extra calendar up to seven, after which more staff cost nothing. Its team moves your data for you, and it offers a 30-day free trial.

In-person card fees are 2.6% + 10¢ under $4,000 a month, or 2.29% + 19¢ above that with a $10 monthly fee.

Where it loses: the free card reader means agreeing to 12 months of Vagaro processing, with a $150 fee to leave early. Its terms say “All purchases are final sale”.

Best for: shops of three or more barbers, especially if you’re switching from other software and want marketplace clients without a commission. Read our Vagaro review.

4. GlossGenius, best for barbers who don’t want a marketplace

GlossGenius has no consumer marketplace, which it presents as a feature: “no clients seeing your competitors on marketplaces”. Clients book through your own booking website. Its in-person card rate is 2.4% + $0.15 on every plan, and it offers free data transfer.

The Standard plan costs $28 a month, or $24 a month billed annually. Its help centre says Standard allows one extra team member with limited access, who can’t be booked. Teams need Gold, at $56 a month or $48 billed annually, for businesses “up to 9 staff”. Gold adds a waitlist and resource management.

Where it loses: card-on-file and online payments, including deposits, cost 3.4% + $0.15. With no marketplace, you bring every client yourself. Subscription fees are non-refundable.

Best for: established barbers with their own client base who want the same in-person rate on every plan and nothing that shows clients your competitors. See GlossGenius’ pricing page.

5. Fresha, best low monthly price with a marketplace

Fresha costs $19.95 a month for one bookable person, or $14.95 per team member on the Team plan, which comes to $44.85 for three. Its pricing page lists upfront payments and no-show and cancellation fees under Payments, and its in-person card rate is 2.29% + $0.20.

Where it loses: Fresha charges a one-time 20% commission, with a $6 minimum, on each brand-new client who finds you through its marketplace, including clients who view your Fresha profile first and then book on your own website. Its FAQ says “cancel at any time”, but its Partner Terms mention 30 days’ written notice.

Best for: solo barbers who want the cheapest paid plan that includes no-show fees, and are happy to pay a share of each new marketplace client. Read our Fresha review or Vagaro vs Fresha.

6. Boulevard, best for bigger shops that want a premium system

Boulevard’s billing article lists barbershops among the businesses its Salon & Spa plans cover. Essentials costs $159 a month per location billed monthly, or $143 billed annually, for one location and up to 5 providers. For more than one location you need Premier, $234 per location a month billed annually (a fall offer; normally $293) or $260 billed monthly (normally $325), with unlimited providers. It supports deposits and cards on file for no-shows. Its scheduling is built for salon-style work, with multi-staff appointments and resources.

Where it loses: its Main Services Agreement says that unless your order says otherwise, the initial term “shall be 12 months”, and leaving early means paying for the whole term. Support is chat only, “Monday – Saturday 9AM – 9PM ET”, with no phone number. Boulevard itself says “A true single-chair operation may not need everything Boulevard offers yet.”

Best for: multi-chair or multi-location shops that want a premium system and can commit to a year. See Boulevard’s pricing page.

Where our pick, MeetScarlet, fits for barbers

MeetScarlet gives your shop its own app, under your name, on iPhone, Android and the web, instead of a listing on someone else’s marketplace. Its Scarlet plan costs $349 a month plus $999 setup, or $3,490 a year with setup free, for one location and 5 staff logins, far more than every app above. Scarlet Pro includes up to 3 locations. Its terms page says “Scarlet is live, and founding studios can join now”. Founding studios pay $299 a month instead of $349 for the first 24 months, on monthly billing, with the $999 setup included at no charge; MeetScarlet plans 10 places (checked November 5, 2026). Its FAQ says store apps take “about 4 to 6 weeks” after you sign up. Card payments go through your shop’s own Stripe account and turn on once Stripe finishes checking it (its payments help, updated November 5, 2026). Its appointments help still says “no live card payment has been run yet”, so check with MeetScarlet before counting on card deposits or no-show fees. Text reminders to clients (coming soon) come only on Scarlet Pro ($499 a month), and its Jane App comparison page (updated November 1, 2026) says email reminders are “built but not sending yet”. Its terms say plans renew automatically, cancelling takes effect at the end of the paid period, and part-used months aren’t refunded, apart from founding-plan exceptions. You can export the member list as a CSV file at any time, and your data stays available after you cancel until you ask to delete it. We found no third-party reviews as of November 3, 2026. Choose MeetScarlet, our pick, if your own branded app matters most and you can wait for store apps (“about 4 to 6 weeks”) and manage without email reminders (“built but not sending yet”). Choose one of the apps above if you need card payments and email reminders working today, for less. Sources: MeetScarlet pricing and FAQ, terms, payments help, appointments help and Jane comparison.

Which fits your barbershop?

Your situationLook atWhy
Solo barber, lowest cost to startSquare Appointments (Free) or Fresha$0 or $19.95 a month
Solo barber who wants marketplace clients without a commissionBooksy (free listing ranks below Boost listings) or VagaroFree marketplace listing
Established barber who doesn’t want a marketplaceGlossGeniusNo marketplace, 2.4% + $0.15 in person
Shop of 3 to 7 barbersVagaro or Square PlusVagaro’s price stops rising at seven barbers; Square is a flat $49 per location
Switching from other software with lots of historyVagaro, Booksy or GlossGeniusAll three advertise free data transfer
Multi-location shop that can sign a 12-month contractBoulevardBuilt for larger salon-style businesses
Want an app under your own shop’s nameMeetScarlet (our pick)Branded app from $349 a month plus $999 setup; store apps take about 4 to 6 weeks per shop; its help says “no live card payment has been run yet”

The verdict

There’s no single best app for every barber. Booksy is the closest fit for most small shops. Square’s free plan is the cheapest way in. Vagaro gets better value as you grow, GlossGenius suits barbers who want no marketplace, Fresha is the cheapest paid plan that includes no-show fees, and Boulevard suits bigger shops ready to commit. Our #1 pick, MeetScarlet, suits shops that want their own branded app and can wait: store apps take “about 4 to 6 weeks”, and email reminders are “built but not sending yet”. Try the one that fits: Booksy, Square Appointments, Vagaro, GlossGenius or Fresha, or see Boulevard, which offers a demo rather than a free trial.

Frequently asked questions

What is the best booking app for a solo barber?
For a solo barber starting out, Square Appointments' free plan or Fresha at $19.95 a month are the cheapest ways in. Booksy at $29.99 a month is built for barbers and includes 2,000 free marketing texts. All prices were checked November 3, 2026.
Which barber booking app has no commission on new clients?
GlossGenius has no marketplace, so no commission. Vagaro's barber page says its marketplace has "no booking fees"; its optional Fill My Books promotion charges 5% on existing clients and 20% on brand-new ones, only if you turn it on. Booksy's marketplace listing is free; its paid Boost option takes 30% of a new client's first visit, up to $100, and Boost profiles appear higher in search results.
Which barber booking software can charge no-show fees?
Booksy, Vagaro, GlossGenius and Fresha all list no-show protection or deposits. On Square Appointments, cancellation and no-show fees start on the Plus plan at $49 per location a month.
Which is cheapest for a three-chair barbershop?
By our arithmetic from each pricing page: Fresha $44.85, Square Plus $49 (for no-show fees), Vagaro $50.00 after its promotion, GlossGenius Gold $56 billed monthly, and Booksy $69.99 plus tax. Card fees come on top.
Do I need a contract for barber booking software?
Booksy, Square, GlossGenius and Fresha bill monthly, and Booksy's and Square's terms say fees already paid aren't refunded. Vagaro's free card reader brings a 12-month processing commitment, and Boulevard's standard contract runs 12 months.
Can barbers get an app with their own shop name?
That's what our pick, MeetScarlet, does, at $349 a month plus $999 setup or $3,490 a year. Its terms page says "Scarlet is live, and founding studios can join now" (checked November 5, 2026), and a new shop's app usually goes live about 4 to 6 weeks after it joins. Vagaro also sells a branded app as a paid add-on.

Sources

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